Mr. CEO, You Look Strangely Familiar

She turned back, the corner of her lips twitching up. ”What is it? Don’t you dare try to solicit me.”

Her personality had always been blunt; she never held back and said whatever was on her mind.

Her words were harsh and grating.

”Whose fault do you think it is that I’ve ended up like this!” He had a head of bleached-blond hair, and his delicate face was made up, making him look even more effeminate. He was blindingly handsome.

But that face was only good for fooling naive young girls who had never been in a relationship.

’He’s just a pretty face, but rotten to the core.’

”Yes, you’ve ended up like this, and it’s certainly not my fault. I didn’t force you to come here and sleep with women—oh, wait, to be slept with *by* women. You came here on your own. And I didn’t force you to mess around with dancers in a club, did I?”

Jason Irving looked at her. ”Zoe Ellsworth, you ruined my life! I really regret ever dating you. A woman as clueless about romance as you? I wouldn’t take you even if you threw yourself at me for free!”

”A little late for that, isn’t it? Regretting it now? Let me tell you something, I’m not someone to be trifled with. From now on, when you see me, you’d better tuck your tail between your legs and walk the other way! Got it?”

Jason Irving snorted, sneering, ”A woman like you? No man will ever like you! You’re such a tomboy!”

Zoe Ellsworth leaned closer to him, raising a hand to tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear. At just that simple motion, he flinched back.

”Think I’m going to hit you? I’m afraid I’d dirty my hands. Jason Irving, let me tell you, looking at you is like looking at filth. You’d better stay far away from me. Otherwise, I’ll make your life a living hell.”

She turned and walked up the stairs in her high-heeled boots, not sparing him another glance.

Jason Irving stood there, watching her, seething with resentment but forced to swallow it.

For Zoe Ellsworth, a man who betrayed her wasn’t worth a second glance, no matter how much she might have liked him in the past. On this point, she had always been completely rational.

Lying to herself was something she couldn’t do. ’Let’s just be friends’ after a breakup? That wasn’t her style.

He refused to strive for better and was just letting himself go to waste. That kind of man was worthless.

Even if she had gone too far in her moment of anger, she felt it was the punishment he deserved. Why should men be the only ones allowed to cheat and act so brazenly about it?

Thinking about it now, Zoe Ellsworth felt she must have been blind to have fallen for a scumbag like Jason Irving.

Following the corridor up to the third floor, she stood at the door of Room 306 and gently pushed it open a crack. The voice of her brother drifted out. ”Young Master Hawthorne, tonight is your bachelor party, and Young Master Grant and I will see you through it. But this is for tonight only. From now on, you must treat my sister like your empress, because only if she’s the empress can you be the emperor. If she’s a maid, then you won’t be much better off—you’d be a servant, on the same level. If she’s the Empress Dowager, then you’re the Emperor Emeritus. That’s a piece of advice from a brother.”

Outside the door, Zoe Ellsworth’s heart warmed as she listened. ’It’s so good to have a brother.’

She pushed the door open, smiling. ”Brother, that was beautifully said.”

Herman Hawthorne chimed in, ”Isn’t it? Your brother is terrified you’ll be wronged after marrying me. He’s laid out all the rules for me.”

Zoe Ellsworth sat down beside him. ”What kind of brother wouldn’t worry about his sister being mistreated? My brother’s concern is completely normal.”

Quentin Grant agreed. ”Zoe is right. No brother doesn’t worry about his sister. If Young Master Hawthorne ever mistreats you, your brother and I will absolutely not let him off the hook. We’ll dump him on a deserted island to reflect on his actions.”

Zoe Ellsworth nodded. ”That makes me feel much more at ease.”

It was already late, and Zoe Ellsworth hadn’t been there long before the four of them headed downstairs.

Inevitably, they saw Jason Irving again.

This time, he was sitting on a sofa with a heavyset woman next to him who looked like a rich matron. Her hand was rubbing him somewhere inappropriate, a lewd smile plastered on her face.

Seeing this, Zoe Ellsworth gave him a calm, contemptuous glance before leaving with the other three.

After leaving the club, Quentin Grant and Ethan Ellsworth both drove off separately to give the soon-to-be-married couple some space. Herman Hawthorne had also brought his car, but Ethan, who had come without one, drove it away.

Thus, Herman Hawthorne and Zoe Ellsworth ended up in one car together.

He had drunk quite a lot, so Zoe Ellsworth took the wheel.

The car came to a stop again downstairs at the Riverbend District apartment building, and she turned off the engine.

”Herman, we’re home. Time to get out.”

He groggily opened his eyes and unsteadily opened the car door.

Zoe Ellsworth hurried after him to support him, and they entered the elevator together.

The elevator doors closed. He stood there, looking like he could collapse at any moment.

Zoe Ellsworth supported him, panting from the effort.

When the elevator doors finally opened again, she practically had to drag him out.

She quickly punched in the door code and shuffled a few steps inside. Unable to support his weight any longer, Zoe Ellsworth was crushed beneath him as they fell onto the sofa.

In the dark, she looked up at him and whispered, ”You’re crushing me. Get up.”

There was no response. She repeated herself.

Finally, he let out a muffled ”Mmm.”

He slowly pushed himself up and then staggered into the bedroom.

”I’m thirsty.”

”I’ll get you some water.” Zoe Ellsworth scrambled up, poured a glass of warm water, and handed it to him. ”Drink this.”

He took one sip and promptly threw up all over the floor.

Zoe Ellsworth patted his back. ”Rinse your mouth out.”

Herman Hawthorne did as she said, then collapsed onto the bed and fell fast asleep.

Resigned, she cleaned up the mess on the floor.

She walked over, took off his shoes, and lifted the covers. Before she could pull them over him, he grabbed her hand and pulled her down on top of him.

THUMP-THUMP. In the silent night, she could hear the rhythm of her own heartbeat with perfect clarity.

”Herman!”

Zoe Ellsworth cried out. For some reason, she could see that he had opened his eyes and was watching her.

His gaze was unwavering, his eyes shimmering with a hazy, captivating light.

”Zoe.”

”Yes.”

”Tomorrow, we’re getting married. Are you sure?”

”Yes, I’m sure.”

The simple question and answer settled deep into both their hearts.

”No regrets?”

”No regrets.”

He smiled faintly. ”Good.”

The hot water of the shower cascaded down from above, drenching him. He moved closer to her, wrapping his arms around her back. His voice was much hoarser now. ”Are you scared?”

Zoe Ellsworth tilted her head up and smiled at him. ”I’m not scared.”

He cradled her face, his movements gentle. ”Good girl. I’ll be very, very gentle. Entrust yourself to me, and let’s spend the rest of our lives together.”

This wasn’t just a promise, but a return to a state of simple, ordinary life.

She closed her eyes. ”I trust you. I just trust you.”

Don’t be fooled by Zoe Ellsworth’s harsh words and reckless actions; her private life was actually very clean. Both she and her brother held incredibly traditional views on life.

If they weren’t getting married tomorrow, she would never have given herself to him tonight.

Before long, it was already five or six in the morning.

The phone began to ring incessantly.